Journals and Posts

Albert "A.R." was the oldest of 3 sons born to George Washington and Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa, where his lawyer father was president of the Iowa Mortgage Company.

In 1895 the family moved back to Davenport (parents natives) where AR graduated from Davenport [Central] High School in May 1905...two months after his father's death in March in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, of diabetes.

He began his career as a clerk with the First National Bank of Davenport until he purchased the newsstand of the I & I Interurban station at 217 Brady St. In 1908 his brother, George Ray "Ray" and in 1912, another brother Harry ELDRIDGE joined him in the business.

Albert married Mabelle/Mabel Maude BUFORD on 15 Oct 1913 in the home of her sister, George and Ella Mathilda SCHWENKER in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois. She was the daughter of John R., born Nov 1847 in Sweden and Mathilda OKERBERG BUFORD.

Mabelle was born 14 April 1886 in Moline, Illinois, and graduated from Moline High School. She was a member of Davenport's First Presbyterian Church, Women's Club and Ladies of the Davenport Rotary. She died 6 Nov 1940 of breast cancer and is buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery public mausoleum.

On 24 May 1945, Albert married Margaret Theresa "Tess" HART in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. She was born 26 Feb 1904 in Davenport to Leonard and Mary MULVAHILL HART, a descendant of Peter and Mary Margaret DOUGHERTY HART, who came to Davenport from Ireland with their children in 1854. Tess graduated from Smart Junior High School, formerly West Intermediate School, then from ELLIOTT FISHER Bookkeeping/Machine School in Rock Island. She was employed in the office of Davenport Locomotive works before becoming bookkeeper and cashier at BAWDEN Bros. Inc, the business her husband and 2 brothers founded from the I&I Interurban ticket office.

AR watched his business grow from a small newsstand in the interurban waiting room into a photo engraving and printing firm; he was president at his death on 1 Jan 1949.

He was director of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce and president of Davenport Rotary Club 1933-34. In 1942 he was elected to the highest layman office in the Presbyterian Church as Ruling Elder. Albert is interred in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery public mausoleum. Tess died 12 Aug 1991 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois' St. John's Hospital and is buried in Davenport's Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Tess lived in their home at 29 Edgehill Terrace in Davenport with mother-in-law Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN.

AR and Mabelle had 4 children all in Davenport: Virginia Jane born 6 Aug 1915 and died 6 August 1915; Marian Jane born 12 Jan 1920 (seperate bio); Robert Albert born 2 Jan 1927 (seperate bio).
AR and Tess had 1 child in Davenport: Ralph ELDRIDGE born 13 Aug 1946 (seperate bio)

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BUFORD INFO:
1. Ella Mathilda was born 13 Oct 1880 in Moline, she died 7 Nov 1963 in Moline. She married George SCHWENKER 25 Nov 1912.
2. Mabelle and Ella had a brother, LeRoy BUFORD, no BMD.
John and Mathilda OKERBERG were married 9 Nov 1879 in Rock Island, Illinois.

John Thomas ILES was born 9 Jun 1882 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa, son of Mary TERRILL BAWDEN (the dtr) and John LOWERY/LOWRY ILES. John was the son of Dr. Thomas Jefferson and Mary/Maria Louisa(e) NUCKOLS ILES.

He was living and working as a clerk for his father at the Riverside Milling Company on River Drive in Davenport until 1906, when he listed his occupation as student. In 1918 he was living with his sister Mary ILES GANSERT on 22nd St. in Rock Island, Illinois, again listing his occupation as student.

He married Edna (no date)born 24 March 1882 in Memphis Junction, Kentucky. In 1930 they were renting in Louisvile and he is a foreman. Edna was the dtr of David and Rufina (no maiden) MANGAN.

In his WWI draft record he lists his father as next-of-kin. They lived at 2728 S. 4th in Louisville.

Edna died 17 Feb 1949 of diabetes and hypertensive myocarditis.

John died 25 Feb 1951 in Veachland, Shelby Kentucky Old Mason's Home of cirrhosis of the liver and enlarged heart. Death records said he had moved there 9 mos before from Louisville. Occupation was listed as mechanic. They had no children.

Mary Louise ILES was the g-dtr of Stephen and Mary TERRILL BAWDEN, and dtr of John and Mary TERRILL BAWDEN ILES born 25 Nov 1871 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa.

She married William Louis/Lewis GANSERT, 13 May 1895 in Davenport's Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

William was born 31 July 1865 in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois, son of John G. or Gustav John and Susan M. (maiden unk) GANSERT.

Until shortly after 1900, Mary and William lived in their home with her father, John ILES on E. 13th St. in Davenport; after that, the GANSERT family moved to their own home in Rock Island, Illinois.

In 1891 Wm founded the GANSERT Candy Company in Rock Island which, according to Mr. GANSERT's obit, developed into one of the largest candy factories in the Midwest (United States).

Wm died 22 Apr 1919 of Oster sarcoma in the family home at 807 22nd St in Rock Island, and is buried on the ILES-GANSERT lot in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery.

He and his family were members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Rock Island. Mary lived in the family home on 22nd St, with her oldest child William ILES GANSERT until 1923 when she moved to Davenport.

In 1925, Mary moved to San Francisco. She died 26 May 1964 in Napa, Napa, California. (California Death Index)

They had 2 children born in Davenport:
1. William Iles Gansert born 13 Jul 1896
2. George B. Gansert born 25 Sept 1897; died 25 Apr 1898 in Davenport.

The home on 22nd St. in Rock Island is now part of the Broadway Historic Association. It was built by Paul Hamilton, a bookkeeper who worked in the downtown firm of Mitchell and Lynde. Information from the association says Mr. Gansert's wholesale firm advertised an odd combination of 'candies, tobacco, oysters and celery' at it's 18th St. store. In the 1940s, the home was converted into a duplex, though owners in recent years have reversed those changes and it is now a private family home. [Association newspaper article]

1. Elizabeth born 10 Jul 1838 on Green Lane in Redruth, Cornwall, England. She died 24 Jun 1840 before the family moved to Cuba.
2. Stephen Douglas
3. Dr. Henry LIGHTBOURNE
4. William Harry born 2 Feb 1849 in England (Redruth?), died 10 April 1851 in Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania before the family came to Iowa in Sept 1860.
5. Mary TERRILL
6. Thomas John
7. George Washington - this writer's lineage.
8. Albert L. (Lightbourne) born 18 July 1861 in Rockingham, Scott, Iowa, died 10 Aug 1861 and is buried with parents in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery.

George was born 9 May 1859 in Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, where his father emigrated to run his mining manufacturing business, Sawanee Mining. The family moved to Rockingham Township, Scott, Iowa in Sept. 1860, where Stephen's first land purchase is dated 1 Sept. 1860.

He attended Davenport public schools and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1880 (Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa]. After the death of his father in 1881, George and his mother, Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN moved to Davenport to live with George's sibling, widowed Mary BAWDEN ILES at 614 E. 13th St. (still stands).

George joined the law firm of Judge GRANT. Later he joined C. A. FICKE for 2 years.

On 14 Mar 1885, George married 19-year-old Jennie in her family home at 1530 Farnam. Jennie was born 15 July 1865 on the outskirts of Davenport on a Jersey Ridge Rd. fruit farm where all 9 children were born. She was the dtr of Jacob MULLEN and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS ELDRIDGE, early settlers of Davenport.

For the next 12 years, the BAWDENs made there home in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa where George practiced law with Allen BROOMHALL. In 1886 he became vice president of the Iowa Mortgage Co., of which uncle J.B. PHELPS was president.

In 1895 George returned to Davenport to form a partnership with Julius LISCHER. Nephew Stephen PHELPS BAWDEN joined the firm after 1895 graduation from University of Iowa Law School. In 1901 Fred W. NEAL joined the firm which dissolved in 1902 at LISCHER's death. George next formed the firm of BAWDEN and THUENEN. Henry THUENEN became junior partner.

Also in 1895, Jennie's father gave George and Jennie 80 ft. of land on Kirkwood Boulevard to build a home...now 511 Kirkwood Blvd.

George was an active member of the Republican Party and was prominent in Davenport politics. He was elected to 2 terms as 5th ward alderman (he declined a 3rd term, as well as the nomination for mayoral candidate). He was vice president and counsel for the Iowa and Illinois Railroad at the time of the building of the interurban line between Davenport and Clinton, Iowa. In 1902, GEorge became a stockholder and president of the Times Corporation which published the Daily Times newspaper under teh direction of E. P. (Phil) ADLER
George was Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Davenport Turner Society.

He suffered from diabetes. In the Spring of 1905, he went to Excelsior Springs, Lafayette, Missouri to regain health where he died 23 March 1905 (see obit blog) at age 46. AFter George's death, Jennie and their 3 sons, Albert Ralph (A.R.), George Ray (Ray) and Harry ELDRIDGE lived in this home until 1911. They later lived at 1203 E. Second Avenue (9th St.) with Jennie's nephew's wife, Edna BAWDEN, (Stephen Douglas). Jennie lived there until 1928.

Jennie died 1 April 1959 in the DAvenport home of her daughter-in-law, AR's wife, Margaret Theresa HART BAWDEN ("Tess} at 29 Edgehill Terrace. Jennie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Kirkwood and Iowa [mother Mary was the first of this family to join]. Jennie and the boys rented pew #32 for 25 cents over and above the weekly tithing. She servied 2 terms as president of the Ladie's Society. Both she and George are buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery with her parents.

Thomas John was born 10 Feb 1855 in Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, where father Stephen set up mining manufacturing business, Sawanee Mining, for 10 years. Thomas was the son and 6th child of Stephen and Mary TERRILL BAWDEN. Thomas came to Rockingham, Scott, Iowa at the age of 4 years. He attended rural schools and on 5 May 1879, he married Anna BENTON in Davenport.

She was born 26 Mar 1858 in Davenport, dtr of Richard and Margaret PENNYPACKER HIGH BENTON. Richard came to Davenport in 1847 and was proprietor of the Scott Hotel, located at First [River Drive] and Harrison Streets.

Thomas lived at Valley Place Farm for over 54 years. He first farmed with his father, and then as his parents died and as the town grew around the homestead, he platted the BAWDEN Addition in 1895 [still in county plat books and used today in descriptions], naming 3 streets after his daughters: Elsie Avenue, Minnie Avenue and Ada Avenue. Ada Ave. no longer exists and is now Johnson Avenue, a short path to the river. Thomas founded the Valley Place Investment Co. in which the children of Stephen BAWDEN participated in the sale of the original farm land from Concord Ave. south to Rockingham and down to the river at OFFERMAN's Island, now Credit Island, a city park, where French traders plied their business with Native Americans.

Thomas built his family home at 3215 Rockingham Road in 1893. He died there on 14 Jan 1914; Anna died there 29 Nov 1933.

1. Elsie born 29 Jun 1881 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa. After her mother's death, she kept house for her father and sister. She did not marry. She was a life-long member of the Methodist Church and served for many years as Secretary of the Scott County Methodist Sunday School Assoc. She lived in the family home with her sisters until her death 24 Jan 1977.
2. Minnie born 9 Nov 1884 in Davenport. She married 20 Jun 1907, Carl S. FINNE in the family home. He was born 13 Jan 1885 in Sloane, Woodbury, Iowa. At their marriage, he was employed as a shoe salesman of the Boston Store, (forerunner to Petersen-Harned-Von Maur department store at 2nd and Main).
Carl and Minnie lived on Rockingham Rd and Minnie Ave, where he died 24 Jul 1957. Minie died 18 Jan 1958 and is buried with her husband in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery with her parents. They had no children. They were active members of St. Johns Methodist Church.
3. Ada born 17 Feb 1889 in Davenport and was active all her life in music circles. She was employed as an agent by the Artist Representative Assoc for 41 years and the SCHMIDT Music Company for 17 years. She was a performing pianist as well as choir director and organist for several Methodist churches.
She died 27 Dec 1981, alert in mind, still active as a talent booking agent, and residing in the Rockingham Road home where she and her family lived for almost 100 years.

Also see Dr. Henry Lightbourne BAWDEN written in History of Scott County blog.

Henry Lightbourne BAWDEN was born 28 December 1845 in Cobra, Cuba, son of 1812 Stephen and Mary TERRILL BAWDEN.

The family moved to Davenport in the summer of 1860...Stephen's first land purchase records occurred 1 September of that year. Henry joined the Union Army that month and was a member of the 7th Iowa Cavalry serving in the Plains States during 1866-67 according to the 1882 History of Scott County, Iowa. No record of this service can be found in either the Civil War records in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa or the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

After the war, he traveled by ox team to Colorado but returned to Davenport to begin the study of medicine. He was educated at Griswold College (no longer exists - was all-male school, now part of Davenport Central High School's campus at 10th and Main, and used for classes. Griswold College was the forerunner of Iowa College and then Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa.). He read medicine with Dr. A. S. MAXWELL, one of the first doctors in Scott County, in his Davenport office and attended lectures at the University of Iowa Medical School, Iowa City, where he graduated 8 March 1873. He began practice in Davenport and served as Scott County Coroner for over 18 years and was a member of Davenport, Scott County, and Iowa Medical Societies. From 1878-1881 he was voted in as County Coroner.

On 28 January 1877, Henry married Bella/Isabella/Bell Murtha/Martha ANGEL/ANGELL in Davenport's First Presbyterian Church, 7th & Brady Streets, now located at Kirkwood and Iowa Streets. Little is known about Bella other than she was born 4 September 1857 in Peoria, Illinois. [obit says New York City, but she led a transient life at different stages]. Her father supposedly died in the Battle of Shiloh which occurred April 6-7, 1862 in Tennessee. I've seen the name John but didn't pursue it.

Henry divorced Bella 24 September 1901, amd married Ida ELBERT(S), dtr of Wilson and Mary GILBERT ELBERTS on 17 December 1902 in Davenport. On 30 December 1904, Ida divorced Henry for 'habitual drunkenness and cruel and inhuman treatment'.

Henry retired and moved to Montana with Mr. and Mrs. Henry MUNDT with whom he lived in Davenport. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and was an active member. He died 22 January 1919 in Ismay, Custer, Montana and is buried in Davenport's Oakale Memorial Gardens with his parents and infant brother and son.

Bella moved to Chicago about 1908 with son James Albert, giving her marital status as 'widow'. She lived with her son-in-law Morse/Morris BROWN in the 1920 Chicago census. In the 1930 Chicago census, Bella is living with the ABBE household at 5116 W. Pensacola Avenue as a 72-year-old boarder. Bella died 12 Oct 1946 in Springfield, Lane, Oregon, where she was living with son Dr. George Stephen and wife Anna SEIBEL BAWDEN. George died 19 October 1959 and Anna died 27 May 1950. They lived at 404 N. 19th St. in Springfield and they were members of Hope Lutheran Church and George was a member of Springfield American Legion. The three are buried in Springfield's Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

Dr. Henry Lightbourne and Bella BAWDEN's children all born in Davenport, Scott, Iowa:
1. Harry E. born 2 May 1878, died 27 February 1881. Buried in Oakdale on Stephen and Mary's lot.

2. Dr. George Stephen born 27 July 1880, became medical doctor and practiced with father. He married 8 May 1907 Judith M. HOLSTROM, nurse from Chicago working at St. Luke's Hospital [now Genesis East] dtr of Ludwig and Mathilda CARLSON HOLSTROM, she was born in 1882 (no birth, or death info) She divorced him 29 Aug 1907 on the grounds George deserted her on 27 July 1907. George married Anna Elizabeth SEIBEL, dtr of John Henry and Charlotte LOEHTER SEIBEL from Pleasant Valley, Scott, Iowa.

George served in the Army during WWI and returned to Davenport to resume his practice until 1920 when he and family left. They lived many years in Jasper, Natrona, Wyoming, and then moved to Springfield Oregon where Bella joined them.

George and Anna had 2 children: Lee George born 9 Dec 1909 in Davenport, social security # issued in Oregon, died 26 Feb 1971 in Alameda, California (no other bio info); Henry Stephen born 2 May 1912 in Davenport, social security # issued in Oregon, lived in Springfield with his parents at the time of his father's death. He had one year high school and his enlistment record said he was 70 inches tall and 133 pounds. He died 26 July 1984 in Redding, Shasta, California. (no burial info for either brother)

3. James Albert born 13 October 1882 in Davenport. Left with Bella about 1908 to live in Chicago for a job as special agent with Delaware and Reliance Insurance Co. He married in Jacksonville, Illinois, Frances R. TALMAGE born in Jacksonville, Morgan, Illinois. [burial marker says 1885). They lived in Chicago until 1915 when they moved to Indiana. James' WWII draft notice 2240159 issued in Marion, Indiana. James died 15 Feb 1971, and Frances died 31 December 1962. They are buried in Indianapolis' Crown Hill Cemetery. (See Find-a-Grave)

4. Clark J. born 25 March 1885, died 12 April 1885 in Davenport and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport with his father, grandparents.

5. Mae Ella born 27 April 1886 in Davenport. After graduation from Davenport High School in1905, she took a kindergarten course and assisted Miss Alice ROBINSON in her Peoples Union Mission Kindergarten est in 1900. Mae Ella also sang in local musical programs.
On 21 July 1908 at Edwards Congregational Church in Davenport, she married Morse/Morris NEVIN BROWN who was born 29 Oct 1881 in Richland, Eaton, Michigan, son of Samuel M. and Rosetta NEVIN BROWN. He lived at 734 E. 14th St. in Davenport and was an usher at 1st Presbyterian Church in 1905 on Kirkwood and Iowa Streets. He worked as an auditor for Peabody Coal Co. in Chicago, Illinois. He died May 1973 in Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas. (no burial info)

Mae Ella died at age 38 on 24 December 1924 in Chicago. She's buried in an unmarked grave in Irving Park Cemetery, Irving Park, Illinois (employee email). They had 2 children: Albert NEVIN BROWN b 27 May 1909 in Chicago, died 1991 - no date; Donald B. BROWN born after 1910 in Chicago. [Frank Wallace and Louella Allen ELDRIDGE's dtr Maud(e) married Morse's brother Charles Alfred.]

He graduated form the University of Iowa Law School in Iowa City in 1894, and entered the law office of Julius LISCHER and George BAWDEN in Davenport. He joined the firm of DAVIDSON and LANE to take charge of their abstract and loan department. He served Scott County as an Assistant County Attorney, was nominated by the Republican party for County Attorney and was elected alderman of the 6th ward. He also managed the Valley Place Investment Company which was organized to sell lots in BAWDEN's Addition in west Davenport [still exists in Davenport Plat Books as BAWDEN's Addition].

Stephen married Edna Cameron HASKIN(S) 7 Sept 1905 in Trinity Cathedral, Davenport. She was the dtr of Charles and Alice Martha ROBESON HASKINS. Mr. HASKINS operated a livery stable on W. 4th St. in Davenport. The couple had no children and lived with the family at 1315 E. 11th St.

Stephen was an extremely outgoing and popular man and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at U of I, the Commercial and Outing Clubs, and worked for many Davenport charities. He was a member of Trinity Cathedral, serving as Vestryman and Clerk and was also Treasurer for the Iowa Diocese of the Episcopal Church.

His sudden death of a stroke in the family home 13 Dec 1914 at age 37 shocked Davenport; flags were flown at half-mast, the mayor issued a special tribute and the newspapers carried a lengthy article which stated "Stephen BAWDEN had more friends than any man in Davenport, his popularity extending to all classes."

For several years after her husband's death, Edna HASKINS BAWDEN lived with Stephen's uncle's widow Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN, wife of George Washington BAWDEN.

On 1 Oct 1919, Edna married James D. MASON in his parent's Des Moines, Polk, Iowa home. James was the son of James and Mary SAMPLE MASON of Davenport and a grand nephew of Jennie's mother, Mary HIGH WILLIAMS ELDRIDGE